Page 124 of I Don't Need Your Romance

Her lips press together as she interlocks her fingers. It feels like years pass, but it’s only seconds before she says, “Please take a seat.”

With shaky legs, I lower myself in the chair in front of her desk. I give her the best smile I can muster, but she doesn’t return it. Actually, she looks pretty ticked off at me. The principal never looked at me like that before. I can’t help but shift in my place. I stare at the floor as I wring my fingers in my lap.

“Sophie, stay away from my son.”

I slowly raise my head. “But why?”

“Because I said so. I don’t want you to tutor him. I don’t want you to talk to him. I don’t want you to be in the same vicinity as him. And you certainly cannot date him.”

“Why can’t I date him?”

She gives me a look that can wake the dead and kill them again. “You know what’s on the line if you defy me.”

I nod, my heart pounding all over my body. “My scholarship.”

“Attending this school is a privilege. It’d be a shame for you to miss out because you’re allowing your hormones to cloud your judgment. Stay away from Damian. Is that clear?”

She’s treating me like I really am a criminal. But what have I done wrong?

“We share classes together…” I stammer. “I can’t just not be around him.”

“Of course you’re allowed to go to class with him, but you’re forbidden to talk to him. If I hear you’re defying my instructions, I won’t hesitate to kick you out of my school.”

Tears burn my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. I won’t give her the satisfaction.

“Do we understand each other?” she asks.

I nod, looking anywhere but at her. I knew people with money are powerful, but I never felt the negative side of their power until this moment.

“Good.” She leans back and gives me a wide, fake smile. “I’m glad we see eye-to-eye on this. I’ll have to assign you a new pupil.”

The thought of no longer spending time with Damian, of not studying together, ofeverything, makes this large hole appear in my stomach. A black hole, sucking everything in, especially the good things.

“Is it okay if I take a break from tutoring for a little while?” I ask her. “I want some time to focus on myself.”

She dips her head. “Whatever you need, Sophie, just as long as you obey my wishes.”

“Okay.”

“You can return to your dorm and get ready for class.”

I turn to go, but face her. “Is…is Damian okay?”

As she looks up from her computer, I can see the anger in her eyes. “He’s not your concern.”

“I’m just asking as his tutor and fellow classmate.”

“Like I said, he’s not your concern.”

I nod slowly, trying to come up with something to say to help Damian, but I don’t think there’s anything I can do. Principal Harrington owns this school and the people in it. Whatever she says goes, and there’s no fighting it.

As I walk back to my dorm, I can’t help but still worry about him. Maybe once I see him at school and conclude he’s okay, I’ll feel a whole lot better. But then what? I’m not allowed to talk to him. How am I going to survive if I can’t talk to him?

“Damian,” I whisper, hoping for some crazy reason that the wind will send him my message. “Please be okay. I know you’re worrying about me, but I’m fine. We’ll see each other again. I know we will. Just be strong.”

Raven’s brushing her hair when I return to our room. She twists around in her chair before her vanity and says, “Where have you been?”

Dropping down on my bed, I hug a pillow to my chest. “Can you text Addie and Carly to come here? I need to talk to you guys.” We have some time before breakfast